Gesellsciiaft



(No Model.)

A. HEINE. APPARATUS FOR SOUNDING STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

N0. 571,763. Patented Nov. 24, 1896.

oouogooooo/ooooooo oo UNITED STATES ATENT @rrrcn.

LOCHMANNSOHER MUSTCTVERKE, PLACE.

ACTIEN-GESELTSCITAFT, OF SAME APPARATUS FOR SOUNDING STRINGED MUSTCAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,763, dated November 24, 1896.

Application filed June 30, 1896.

To to whom it 'n'my concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR ITEINE, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at I Leipsic-Gohlis, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Sounding Stringed ldusical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel device for sounding stringed instruments and more especially chord-citherns or the like.

The invention consists of providing acithern or similar instrument with a bar extending at right angles to the strings and above and having a pin adapted when depressed to contact with certain of said strings; and it further consists of the improvements hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more fully understood when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a cithern or similar stringed instrument having my improvements embodied therein, and showing the sounding-board and strings in section and the sliding pin for sounding the said strings. Fig. 2 is a top view of a part of the instrument shown in Fig. 1 and showing the new sounding device in application; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the instrument, taken in line with the strin Referring now to the drawings for a further description of my invention, a is the sounding-board, above which the strings I) are located in the usual or any preferred manner. A distance above these strings and at right angles thereto is supported on posts (Z a slotted bar 0, which is provided with a scale T, running the entire length of the bar 0. This scale is provided with notes and divisions in black and white corresponding with the keys of a piano. A slide 0, having an offset perthe same, and a slide mounted on said bar tion 0, which lits into the slot of the bar 0, l is provided with a pin f, which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is movable up and down in the aperture of the slide. Norm ally the lower Serial No. 597,571. (No model.)

l end of the pin j", which may be pointed, is

held above the strings I) by the spring g, interposed between the button f of the pin f and the top of the slide 6. If one or a number of'strings Z) shall be sounded, the player dopresses the pin f at the desired point, which I is indicated by the pointer 7t, secured to the l top of the slide 6 and note on the scale 1', and moves the slide 6 in one or the other direction, the pin f moving out of contact with the strings I) as soon as the pressure on the button f is relieved.

\ Very pleasing effects can be had by the use f of the slide 6 with pin f on chord-citherns having properly-arranged damper-bars by l which the sound of a number of strings, a

chord, is dampened, the pin in the slide 0 be- 6 5 ing brought with the same force and with an even grip against or over each individual string, an operation which can hardly be accomplished with the required exactness in the usual way by the players fingers.

If it is desired, the pinfmay be secured to the slide a, but in such case the latter must be raised in order to pass the lower end of the pin f over the strings I), which are not to be sounded.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the construction of the device without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the nature and ob- 8o jects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. Tu a stringed musical instrument, the combination with a sounding-board and strings, oia bar located above the said strings, 85 a slide movable thereon, a pin in said slide adapted to contact with certain of the said strings, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In a stringed musical instrument, the 0 combination with a soundingboard and strings, of a slotted bar located above said strings a slide mounted in the said slotted bar 1 and carrying a pin adapted to engage certain of said strings, substantially as described.

Tn a stringed musical instrument, the

combination with a sounding board and strings, of a slotted bar located above and at a right angle to the said strings, a scale attached to said bar, a slide having a pin adapted to be brought into contact with the said strings, I and a pointer attached to said slide, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence 0! two subscribing witnesses.

ART] i U H 'J'IEIN E. Witnesses:

OTTOMAR GEIPLER, RUDOLPH FRICKE. 

